Erik Lemke

Director

Erik Lemke, born in Dresden in 1983, is a German documentary filmmaker who works with closely observed portraits and discursive forms. After studying in Saint Petersburg and Toulouse, he has been living and working in Berlin since the 2010s as a director, writer, cameraman, and editor. His films focus on everyday realities and often dispense with explanatory commentary. Among his most influential works is BERLIN EXCELSIOR (2017, director: Erik Lemke), a feature-length film about the residents of the Excelsiorhaus in Berlin-Kreuzberg, developed and produced with André Krummel. The film traces different biographies in an urban environment and condenses observations into a polyphonic portrait of the building. MICH VERMISST KEINER! (2016, directed by Erik Lemke) is a short documentary about Lemke's great-aunt Evelin, who lives between memories and the present after two leg amputations; the film combines new footage with private archive material. HOMÖOPATHIE UNWIDERLEGT? (2022, director: Erik Lemke) is a discourse film that brings together conversations with proponents of homeopathy and reveals patterns of argumentation. Other works include the short film Soft Skills für Stadtführerinnen (2012, director: Erik Lemke).

Films on Sooner

Homeopathy Unrefuted?

2021

86 mins

Documentary, Independent

Is homeopathy a hoax or medicine? Here, homeopaths are allowed to share their very different views.

No One Misses Me!

2016

28 mins

Documentary, Independent

Filmmaker Erik Lemke (BERLIN EXCELSIOR) portrays his great-aunt Evelin: she was born a man, in a country that no longer exists.

Berlin Excelsior

2018

87 mins

Documentary, Independent

The anonymous Berlin concrete building "Excelsior" is only a temporary stop for its residents, yet some have been living there for more than 50 years.